When aggression rears its head in the workplace, it can be a daunting challenge to navigate. Drawing lessons from the infamous 'Will's Slap' incident, we delve into strategies for managing such situations, fostering a healthier work environment.
Apology
Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock after Rock cracked a joke about Smith’s wife which didn’t go down well with the actor, provoking a violent reaction.
- By his apology, Smith realized that no kind of violence can be justified and is unacceptable.
- Unsolicited humour can be as hurtful as physical abuse. Humour is like transgressing somebody else’s self esteem zone.
What to do if you are assaulted/abused/bullied at work?
First act should be to introspect
- Reflect on your own actions/behaviour
- Have I transgressed some boundaries?.
- If the answer is no, collect yourself, leave the scene, gather yourself and then evaluate whether you can and want to charter an independent conversation with the other individual or would you need support from other stakeholders.
How to handle aggression at work
Draw a line between professional and personal interactions at work – draw a distinction between the Role and the Individual
- In the true capacity of your role, if you still find something unacceptable, then it’s time for some transparent assertive communication
Solicit a private time for a personal conversation
Be sensitive, be authentic, keep your conversations respectable and transparent, respect confidentiality, be willing to listen, willing to forgive, be accountable and if required willing to apologize
- The more we practice this regularly, the lesser the probability of finding ourselves in an emotionally charged situation, at work.
